News

SEMS students win QMUL SEED award for creating interactive online textbooks

10 January 2025

Joost Hubbard
Joost Hubbard
Emmanuel Ehimeme Airiofolo
Emmanuel Ehimeme Airiofolo

Queen Mary School of Engineering and Materials Science aerospace engineering students Joost Hubbard (MEng), Emmanuel Ehimeme Airiofolo and Noah Leigh (third-year BEng) have been successful in securing the Student Enhanced Engagement and Development (SEED) Award from the Queen Mary Academy for their significant contributions as student research assistants on co-creational engineering education projects. QM Academy have also separately shared Joost's and Emmanuel’s case studies.

The three were part of a larger team of undergrads that worked collaboratively to transform traditional handwritten course materials into interactive digital textbooks for two key modules: "EMS418U: Introduction to Computational and Symbolic Dynamics" and "EMS515U: Introduction to Spacecraft Dynamics". Their innovative approach focused on making complex engineering concepts more accessible and engaging for future students.

Joost, who brings a unique perspective as a neurodiverse student, focused on developing intuitive teaching methods for complex topics in 418U and also mentored the team working on 515U, demonstrating strong leadership skills in software development. He incorporated interactive elements designed to simplify challenging concepts and support diverse learning styles. The panel commended his "thoughtful approach to creating accessible educational resources that cater to different learning needs."

Emmanuel worked extensively on the Spacecraft Dynamics module, converting traditional course materials into a digital, interactive format over a five-month period. His contribution demonstrated strong technical skills and excellent project management abilities, as he effectively coordinated with team members and supervised staff throughout the development process. Together with Noah Leigh, the team has successfully created comprehensive digital resources that enhance the learning experience for engineering students. Their work has already received positive feedback from faculty and students alike, with particular praise for the interactive elements and clear presentation of complex material.

Both modules now feature interactive elements, clear explanations, and engaging content that makes complex engineering concepts more approachable for students with varying learning styles and backgrounds. The developed resources have been successfully implemented in the current academic year's curriculum, with both interactive textbooks now hosted online. These can be viewed by click on the embedded hyperlinks for EMS418U and EMS515U. As living documents, these digital resources are designed to evolve and improve over time, with future cohorts of students encouraged to contribute their own insights and enhancements.

A particularly notable aspect of the project was the strong peer-review culture that emerged among the student developers. The team demonstrated exceptional collegiality, regularly reviewing each other's contributions and engaging in thoughtful discussions about content and presentation. This collaborative approach not only improved the quality of the final resources but also provided valuable professional development opportunities for the students involved.

The project has served as an excellent example of how student-faculty partnerships can enhance both the learning resources and the educational experience at QMUL. The successful implementation of these interactive textbooks represents a significant step forward in our commitment to improving student engagement and educational outcomes in engineering education.

Contact:Angadh Najnagud
Tel:+44 (0) 20 7882 3757
Email:a.nanjangud@qmul.ac.uk
Website:https://www.seresearch.qmul.ac.uk/robotics/people/ananjangud/
People:Angadh NANJANGUD
Research Centre:Intelligent Transport